Modern cabin with wood siding, solar panels on the roof, outdoor patio, and garden beds, set against a mountainous landscape.

White Salmon Home

  • MFA | Architecture and Planning approached Owen Gabbert, LLC to build a highly sustainable home for a residential client in White Salmon, Washington. The client, who works in regenerative agriculture and is passionate about the environment, wanted to build her dream home that was as energy efficient as possible. She had purchased a lot on a flat, open space in White Salmon and had a solid vision for what she wanted.

    The team collaboratively designed and built a two-bedroom home for the client that supports her love for cooking, creating, and living lightly on the land. The one-story home features custom woodworking and Doug Fir cabinetry throughout the space, including a few special carved pieces belonging to the client that the team integrated into the home.

    An ample and beautiful kitchen was particularly important to the client, so the team created custom Doug Fir cabinets, thoughtful built-ins, and a unique pull-out drawer with a display case window for her favorite cookbooks. Of the two bedrooms, one is the primary bedroom with space for the client’s loom and features a sliding door that leads out onto the patio. The second bedroom is used as a yoga and exercise room but a hidden murphy bed allows the owner to easily convert it to a guest bedroom for occasional visitors.

    A main highlight of the 1,360 square foot home is the seamless connection between indoor and outdoor spaces. Taking advantage of the beautiful natural setting, the home features a wide covered porch with a large overhang to protect it from the elements. With large glass walls facing the backyard and glass doors leading outside, the slab-on-grade back porch feels like a continuation of the home. A unique stainless-steel wire mesh screen can be drawn across the porch for privacy while still letting the light in. From the porch, the client can walk directly into her garden.

    Also on the back porch, there is an exterior kitchenette that can be used for outdoor entertaining. It has a roll-down garage door to protect it when not in use. In the front of the home, there is a large carport with a door that provides direct access to the backyard. A mud room and a dog washing station were also added. Including the porch, carport, and other covered spaces, the total indoor/outdoor living space spans to 2,540 square feet.

    To achieve the goal for the home to approach net-zero energy performance, the team installed exterior insulation, radiant heating, and triple-pane windows throughout. Solar panels were also installed to make the home as resilient and self-sufficient as possible. The design also allows for aging-in-place through barrier-free design—single-story, step-free transitions from inside to outside—and low-maintenance material choices such as a metal roof and siding and a concrete floor.

  • Architect: MFA | Architecture and Planning
    Structural Engineer: WDY, INC.
    Landscape Architect: Windswept Landscapes
    Photographer: Gregor Halenda

Scenic landscape with a modern house among trees, near hills and a river under a colorful sky.
Modern single-story house with a metal roof, wooden and metal exterior, surrounded by greenery and trees, showing a concrete pathway and entrance marked with "103."
Modern wooden house with solar panels, large windows, planters, and gravel paths, in a rural setting with trees and hills.
Modern wooden house exterior with slatted facade, surrounded by trees, at dusk.
Modern wooden cabin with large windows and patio, surrounded by trees and mountains, featuring raised garden beds and stone pathways.
Modern open-plan living room and kitchen with wooden ceiling, concrete floor, large windows, wooden dining table, bar stools at a kitchen counter, and a cozy seating area with a sofa and armchair.
Modern open-concept kitchen and living area with wooden cabinets, concrete flooring, recessed lighting, a large island with stools, a bench seat by the window, decorative wall art, and a red area rug.
Modern open-concept living area with a kitchen, dining table, and seating space featuring wooden flooring, ceiling fan, and large windows.
Modern hallway with wooden cabinetry and concrete floor
Minimalist bedroom with light wood furniture, a ceiling fan, a white bed, shelves with decor items, and a large window allowing natural light.
Modern bedroom with wooden ceiling, adjacent to a bathroom with a glass-enclosed shower.
Outdoor wooden patio with chairs and tables, covered by a decorative metal screen, overlooking a garden and trees.